Thursday, 3 October 2013

BSBI News.

The gardens at RBGE. Image: I. Denholm.

Last week, BSBI members enjoyed the thrice-yearly thrill of anticipation that accompanies finding the latest issue of BSBI News on the doormat. You can go straight for the main course and sit down with News, expecting to be engrossed for the next few hours. Or you can enjoy the hors d'oeuvres, like the flyer inside BSBI News no.124 which offers BSBI members a 20% discount on John Edgington's forthcoming book, 'Who found our ferns?'

The back cover of this issue of News displays my favourite photograph from Birdfair - apologies for showing you this again (on left) but 'Best Stand Award 2013 (Conservation)' - can you really blame me?Opening up BSBI News, there's the usual dilemma - which way to look first? Eyes left to the first batch of colour photographs (this issue has some gorgeous ones of Michael Chalk's to accompany his note on Man x Monkey Orchid Orchis x bergonii)? Or eyes right to skim down 'Contents' and note that this issue is 72 pages long. That's comparatively slim for BSBI News, which is sometimes 100+ pages, but the length is determined by how many suitable submissions the editors (Gwynn and Trevor) receive.

Laura at Big Nature Day, NHM
Image: O. Pescott

So if you want even more in your News, it's up to all of us to contribute - you don't necessarily have to be a member to submit an article, but it should be of relevance to the BSBI membership. Ask Trevor if in doubt.

Great to read Ian's comment that he is "personally very committed to ... strengthening our external profile among potential sponsors, other related organisations, the media and the public at large". Ian writes about the outreach events BSBI has attended this year - like 'Big Nature Day' (above right) - and he thanks and acknowledges the BSBI volunteers who made possible our successes.